The latter weeks of summer 2016 were pretty darn hot. It presented plenty of time and opportunity to find cooling beverages to make the 95 degree heat feel more like 90. I explored the budding coffee scene in the northwestern Philadelphia suburbs in search of hip, cozy cafes as well as cold brew, a new trend in cold coffee beverages. Cold brew seemed to jump onto the scene only within the last couple years but the concept of it has been around for several years. Don’t dismiss it for regular iced coffee; it’s brewed entirely different (and remarkably easy). Coffee beans are obviously ground and allowed to steep in room temperature water for at least 24 hours. (To make cold brew at home, grind beans, place in a french press, fill with water and stir until all grinds are hydrated. Cover and sit for 24 hours in a cool place. Filter with french press lid and voila.) This brings out a more mellow coffee flavor, usually less acidic and free of bitterness from the hot brewing process. It also allows for a richer coffee flavor and dilution with ice and/or a touch of water will bring down the intensity. Different coffee shops and distributers obviously have different variations on this brewing style. Here is a small list of some coffee shops where you can indulge and rehydrate- well, sort of.
La Colombe- Fishtown and Bryn Mawr
My favorite cold brew stop. The Trattoria in Fishtown offers much more than coffee for it is a distillery, serves local beer and has a sizable breakfast and lunch menu (the ham and butter sandwich is divine and a great deal). An occasional trip to the Fishtown location was a midday treat but the opening of a closer location in Bryn Mawr was just flat-out spoiling. The Cold Brew at La Colombe is served from a tap. You can also opt for a draft latte or a ‘black and tan’ which is half cold brew and half latte in which the creamy latte and coffee is reminiscent of coffee ice cream. The regular brew has flavors of chocolate and earth with a very mild, smooth aftertaste and hardly any bitterness.
Volo Coffee- Manayunk
My usual biking pitstop or outright destination while on the Schuylkill River Trail, this shop offers pastries from local bakers, paninis, platters and plenty of seats inside or out depending on the weather. The coffee served here is from La Colombe Coffee Roasters. That’s probably why I like it so much.
Riverbend Cycles- Spring Mill
Another coffee stop closer to home along the Schuylkill River Trail with a clientele of bikers, very local residents and workers on break. Riverbend utilized local coffee roasters for their coffee and nitro-served cold brew. This brew more citrusy, acidic and recommended without ice for a more intense flavor and caffeine rush.
Feine- Conshohocken
Feine is a cozy shop with a rustic living room motif. It has multiple coffee and tea options as well cold brew on nitro. This option has a lighter body but more of an acidic, winey taste with a hint of ash. Corny, I know, but I can’t describe it any other way.
Green Engine Coffee- Haverford
Tucked away in downtown Haverford, Green Engine is a great shop with paninis, a delicious variation of pastries and Philadelphia-based Rival Bros. coffee selections. The house cold brew is fairly standard but splurge a bit more for the Kyoto-Style Cold Brew, brewed 24 hours in a brewer imported from Japan.
Soltane Cafe- Phoenixville
In addition to delicious pastries and local Counter Culture Coffee, this downtown cafe also a part of Camphill Soltane, a social enterprise for individuals with disabilities. The increased prices are for a deserving cause. The cold brew is rich with flavors of chocolate and winey notes.
Soltane Cafe- Phoenixville
In addition to delicious pastries and local Counter Culture Coffee, this downtown cafe also a part of Camphill Soltane, a social enterprise for individuals with disabilities. The increased prices are for a deserving cause. The cold brew is rich with flavors of chocolate and winey notes.
Starbucks- anywhere inhabited by humans, including US Navy vessels (look it up)
Normally, I completely avoid franchises when it comes to food blogging but the cold brew from Starbucks is worth mentioning because this is where the phenomenon began for me. This is also where you can get both iced coffee and cold brew and really taste this difference. The cold brew is richer, smoother with little to no acidity. It also doesn't taste like Pike Place Roast which has been sitting around all day. When there are no other options I don’t hesitate to stop here for a brew.
